CFP: Scenari - Phenomenology of the Digital

Scenari aims to propose itself as a cultural reference for heterogeneous disciplinary fields in dialogue with each other: contemporary philosophy (Aesthetics, Theoretical Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, Political Philosophy), Cinema and New Media, and Visual Culture Studies. 

Scenari presents the reader with in-depth arguments on topics such as image theories, approaches to virtual reality, visual intelligence, gender ideology, music, intermediation. Without privileging a particular philosophical current, the journal tries to investigate possible points of intersection between European continental philosophy and Anglo-American traditions.

Phenomenology of the digital

Edited by F. Ferro

During the XX century, phenomenology has widely dealt with the problem of perception. It is not only referring to the Husserlian version of this current of thought, which experienced new developments with Sartre, Henry, and Merleau-Ponty, in particular with his Phenomenology of perception (1945). Equal importance should be attached to the phenomenological and perceptive interpretation offered by the Gestalt psychology of the German, Belgian, and Italian schools, its openly aesthetical declinations (consider Arnheim, for example), and the attempts at dialogue between phenomenology and neurosciences, such as The Phenomenological Mind by Gallagher and Zahavi (2008).

One of the problems that arise most urgently in phenomenology concerns the interaction between perception, which usually takes place in the world of life, and the digital environments where humans find themselves immersed. This change regards both objects and what allows their existence and interaction. Moreover, there are digital objects which are not limited to being perceived, but also interact with other objects: smart objects. Phenomenology of perception is therefore concerned with artificial intelligence and internet of things, with the digital object as non-isolated, but as inserted in a network of relationships. This reshapes the expressive possibilities of humans, including artistic and architectural environments. In addition to this, a further problem may arise, that is the eventual integration between human body and digital parts: it opens the possibility of a hybridization, referring to the post-human question.

Scholars are invited to submit contributions regarding phenomenology in relation to the digital problem. This includes both those who deal with the phenomenological tradition in its various forms, and those who come from other perspectives and are critical of this approach.

Proposals should be sent to [email protected] and need to include:

– article (min. 30.000, max 40.000 characters);

– title and abstract (max 500 words);

– 5 keywords;

– brief biography;

– email address.

Proposals may be submitted in Italian, English, and French.

Deadline for submitting proposals: 15th April 2021

Notification of acceptance: 2nd May 2021

Deadline for submitting full article (min. 30.000, max 40.000 characters): 15th July 2021